Page 52 of Out of the Darkness

“I love you too,” she whispered, a few more tears falling from her eyes.

“Oh, gag,” Melanie teased softly, even though she seemed to be tearing up.

It seemed too good to be true; all of it did. It was hard to believe her fight with Melanie was over. She and Xavier were okay, Colby was gone, and both she and the baby were alive and well.

“In all seriousness though,” Melanie began, causing Xavier to release her, “I’m sorry about before. I didn’t know what was going on. I had no idea that you guys were fated mates, and I feel terrible about how we left things. Then you got taken, and I was afraid that something bad was going to happen to you, with you thinking I hated you.”

“I never thought you hated me,” she admitted. “I just… hang on, how do you know that Xavier and I are fated mates?”

“I told her,” Xavier said with a grin. “I was trying to convince her to stay away from Colby, but all it did was make her more determined.”

“So, she knows that?—”

“That the two of you are soulmates, that Xavier is a shifter, and that you are most likely carrying a shifter baby? Yup. I’ve been filled in on all the details,” Melanie interjected. “It’s a lot to get my head around, but I’m getting there. He seems to be completely devoted to loving you and keeping you safe, so we are good. For now.”

“Appreciate it,” Xavier chuckled.

Madelyn shook her head in disbelief but couldn’t keep the smile off her face. Her best friend and boyfriend were getting along. She never thought she’d see the day.

Taking a moment to get a look around the room, she realized that many of the flat surfaces were full of flowers, stuffed animals, and balloons. It almost looked like a gift shop, given how many there were in such a small, confined space.

Following her gaze, Melanie smiled at her. “From everyone at the station,” she told her. “They send their love and want you to get better soon.”

“And I’d like to add a few more from the Cortez family,” an unfamiliar, female voice said from by the door. “If you don’t mind.”

Madelyn looked over to see a gorgeous redhead stepping inside the room. She was wearing a pair of ridiculously tight jeans, a black shirt, boots, and a black leather jacket. In one arm, she was holding a huge basket full of all kinds of things, and in the other, she held a small gift bag and a stuffed wolf.

Xavier was on his feet in an instant, positioning himself between her and the newcomer. “What are you doing here, Isabelle?” he growled in warning.

Madelyn blanched. This was the woman Xavier hooked up with?

“Oh, relax, Xavier. I come in peace,” Isabelle stated, brushing him off. “You know I had to come meet the girl who stole your heart. And I brought gifts.”

Isabelle rounded the bed, all three of them staring after her in both surprise and disbelief. She set the basket in one of the chairs that wasn’t being used before turning back to face her. If Madelyn didn’t know any better, she would say that Isabelle appeared to be a little nervous.

“It’s nothing too crazy,” Isabelle rambled on. “It’s just some skin and hair care products, a couple of different kinds of coffee, and some chocolate of course. Because you can never go wrong with chocolate. And these,” she held up the stuffed wolf and small gift bag. “Are for the little one.”

Madelyn hesitantly took the gift bag and opened it. Despite her confusion about meeting Isabelle for the first time and seeing how gorgeous she was, a smile spread across her lips when she saw what was inside. It was a tiny black hoodie just like the ones Xavier always wore.

“I figured the kid was probably going to be a lot like its father,” Isabelle commented. “But if you don’t like it?—”

“It’s perfect,” Madelyn interjected.

Melanie laughed. “Yeah, it kind of is.”

“Thank you, Isabelle. You didn’t have to do this.”

“I know that you and I got off on the wrong foot,” Isabelle replied. “I knew what you thought when you called that day, and I didn’t bother correcting you. For that, I’m sorry. But the fact of the matter is Xavier is family, whether he wants to be or not, which means that you and this baby are too. And we take care of family.”

“So, I take it your father knows we worked together to take down Colby and rescue Madelyn?” Xavier asked, folding his arms across his chest.

Isabelle smiled. “You know there’s no keeping anything from him. He knows everything. He also said to give you this along with his congratulations on the newest member of your family.” She then pulled a letter out of her back pocket and passed it over to Xavier.

Madelyn didn’t know how she felt about Xavier’s old boss being so informed about her life. Melanie even met her gaze and lifted an eyebrow in question.

While Xavier read the letter he had been given, Isabelle stepped up to the side of the bed. “You’re good for him, Madelyn. You change him for the better, and I am really happy for the two of you.”

“You are?” Madelyn asked, unable to stop herself.

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